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TO: EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR CULTURE, DELIVERY & PUBLIC PROTECTION 20TH JANUARY 2020

CONTRIBUTION FOR THE FARLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE Chief Executive

1 PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 To seek approval for a grant of £7,800 for the Community Centre.

2 RECOMMENDATION 2.1 That approval is given for expenditure of £7,800 from S106 contributions on the Farley Wood Community Centre.

3 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION 3.1 To make improvements to the outside patio area of Farley Wood Community Centre. 3.2 This project will directly support four of the Councils strategic objectives,  Value for money Community involvement and the use of volunteers in the delivery of council services has increased  People live active and healthy lifestyles Numbers of adults and young people participating in leisure and sport has increased  A clean, green, growing and sustainable place Appropriate infrastructure development is completed to support housing growth including; Warfield Link Road, Coral Reef Junction, Jennett’s Park, town centre  Strong, safe, supportive and self-reliant communities High levels of community cohesion are maintained

4 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED 4.1 None, not to make the changes means that the nursery group cannot use the outside area.

5 SUPPORTING INFORMATION 5.1 The community association would like to raise the height of the wall surrounding the outside patio to enable groups with young children to make use of this outside area. 5.2 This includes the nursery group which hires the centre and has been informed by OFSTED that without this extra height they must increase the ratio of staff to children when outside, to stop children climbing over the wall and running off. The nursery does not have the resources to take on more staff, so are not able to take children outside, which has resulted in parents taking their children out of the group, making it financially unsustainable. 5.3 Increasing the height of the wall will ensure a nursery group can remain at the centre to provide facilities for future residents. 5.4 The CA would also like to fence off a further outside area of about 4m x 5m and install artificial grass so that the centre can increase the outside area available for

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use by groups, including a group providing facilities and care for disabled children and young people up to the age of 18 years.

5.5 The S106 contributions to fund this improvement project come from social and community facilities contributions in the with Warfield ward, namely Farley Hall, London Rd contribution of £7,800 out of the total £28,837 available.

6 CONSULTATION AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Legal Advice 6.1 The allocation of funding proposed in this report complies with the requirements of the s106 agreements.

The approval of the recommendation in the report falls within the decision making remit of officers in consultation with the Executive member pursuant to the Forest Council Constitution November 2019 Part 2, section 6 paragraph 6.2 (a)( vi).

Financial Advice 6.2 The financial implications are set out in the report. Other Consultation Responses 6.3 The Farley Wood Community Association, user groups at the centre and the Parks & Countryside Department support the project. The ward members for the Binfield with Warfield ward have been consulted by the Executive Member for Culture, Delivery and Public Protection. Equalities Impact Assessment 6.4 The works will have a positive impact for disabled children and young people. Strategic Risk Management Issues 6.5 Not applicable

Contact for further information Lesley Doyle, Organisational Development, Transformation & Human Resources - 01344 352218 [email protected]